-BOUQUET OF ROSES-

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FLASHBACK • 1950s •

Jungkook clutches a bouquet of exquisite roses in his hands, recently purchased from a charming flower shop just outside the venue. He intends to impress the beautiful girl he met at the party, aiming to embody the gentleman he believes himself to be. An affectionate smile graces his lips as he quietly praises his own romantic intentions, and a soft chuckle escapes him, reflecting his light-hearted anticipation. Uncertain of his exact plan but resolute in his determination to win her over, Jungkook resolves to follow his heart.

Upon entering the bustling venue, excitement fills the air, and his smile widens as he takes in the lively atmosphere. Eagerly, he scans the room, hoping to spot the captivating woman who has captured his attention. His anticipation mounts with every passing moment, but a frown replaces his hopeful expression when he realizes she is nowhere to be found. Undeterred, he continues his quest to locate her in the sea of partygoers.

However, the festive ambiance takes an abrupt and terrifying turn when a panicked man bursts into the party venue, his voice loud and frantic, as he urgently addresses the assembled guests.

"A vampire's attack! Please help us! A woman has been found dead outside!" The urgent cry of an elderly man pierces the festive atmosphere, instantly alerting everyone in the vicinity. As his voice echoes through the venue, partygoers shift their attention, their faces etched with growing concern, and their eyes darting around anxiously.

Fear coursing through him like a torrent, Jungkook rushes toward the exit with the bouquet of roses clutched tightly in his trembling hands. Panic and dread are palpable on his face as he emerges into the night, his gaze frantically scanning the surroundings. The realization dawns on him, and his heart sinks as he fears the worst – a woman's life hangs in the balance. This thought gnaws at him, threatening to consume him, but he clings to it desperately, attempting to maintain his composure amid the chaos.

Jungkook's gaze catches a body lifeless laying on the ground with bite marks on the neck. The girl he was going to give the bouquet to. She lay covered in blood with her neck slightly ripped apart because of drinking so much blood from it. The bouquet falls from his hands as he turns around and walks away with a blank expression.

- END OF FLASHBACK -

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Jungkook keeps his gaze lowered as he utters those words—an apology. He feels genuinely sorry right now. Attempting to kiss you without your consent, it wasn't what he intended. He didn't even crave physical touch as long as he could bask in your presence, standing in front of him, engaging in conversation. Everything about this felt surreal.

"Yes?" You prompt him, eager to hear those words again, intrigued by what he's apologizing for. What exactly was he sorry about? You find yourself inexplicably drawn to him, the desire to lean in and kiss him back now swirling in your thoughts. His kiss on the cheek had felt special, after all.

"I am sorry," Jungkook repeats, and you release a sigh.

"You don't have to apologize. I liked it," you declare with candor, causing him to snap his head towards you, seemingly startled by your response.

"What?" He questions, attempting to grasp the meaning behind your words.

"I liked it," you repeat as you slowly move closer to him. With every step you take, his heartbeat races.

"Then, why did you run away?" Jungkook inquires while gazing down at you, his tall stature making you crane your neck.

"For a peculiar reason. I don't want to explain it," you reply, maintaining eye contact with him.

"So, I was mistaken?" Jungkook questions further, and you nod, your gaze dropping to your feet. He responds by enveloping you in a tight, comforting hug.

"I was so concerned," he murmurs into the crook of your neck, and you return the hug, chuckling softly.

"You don't need to worry. I'm simply not prepared for a kiss," you respond, resting your head on his chest. Your words bring a sense of peace to him. You weren't ready for a kiss, and he's okay with that. He just didn't want you to resent him for the attempt. As long as you didn't, he felt at ease.

"And... I apologize for telling you to immerse yourself in hot water so abruptly," you giggle at your own words, and he joins in.

"Am I so cold?" he inquires, making you pause.

"Even if you were, I wouldn't mind, as long as I get your hugs," you admit, nonchalantly shrugging.

"You enjoy my hugs?" Jungkook asks, his warm eyes sparkling as he takes a step back to play with your hair.

"Absolutely," you confirm, a grin spreading across your lips.

"I'm afraid of kissing, but I still want to conquer that fear," you murmur softly, your desire evident. However, you're uncertain how to go about it. You don't want to be paralyzed by fear like this, but something inside you doesn't feel right.

"You want to overcome your fear of kissing," Jungkook ponders the words, humming thoughtfully as he sucks in his cheeks, glancing around.

"Keep in mind, Señorita, that there's more than one way to kiss," Jungkook remarks, a mischievous smile forming on his sacred lips. It leaves you stuttering in confusion.

"W—What?"

"Can I?" Jungkook's voice carries a hint of anticipation as he leans in, and your heart skips a beat. You slowly nod, assuming he's going to kiss you. However, he catches you off guard when he grasps the hem of his shirt, removes it, and casually tosses it onto a nearby rock. Your eyes widen in awe as you witness the scene unfolding before you. You've seen him shirtless before, but it's still mesmerizing. His upper body is a true work of art, every muscle perfectly toned. You find yourself wanting to capture every inch of it, even though you don't know how to draw. Your gaze fixates on his well-defined abs as a confident smirk plays on his lips.

Before you know it, he's grabbed the back of your thighs, pulling your legs up to wrap around his waist. You can't help but let out a surprised squeal, which is much louder than you intended. You bury your face into his neck as a soft chuckle escapes his lips.

"You don't want to do this?" he inquires, looking into your eyes. How could you not want to? This feels thrilling and exhilarating, and Jungkook himself is a whole thrilling experience.

"I want to," you reply, your eyes locked onto his as he moves towards the falls, his gaze never leaving yours. He steps onto a narrow path along the side of the falls, leading you both towards a rock situated in the center of the cascading water.

The water's surface isn't too high, and the path along the side takes you to the rock, where the falls cascade around it like a beautiful shower.

As you reach the rock, you cast a worried glance at the falls, then turn back to Jungkook.

"I don't have any spare clothes," you admit, your voice tinged with uncertainty. But Jungkook doesn't seem deterred. He slowly leans in closer, his expression unwavering, and speaks softly into your ear.

"Doesn't matter," he whispers near your ear, sending shivers down your spine. Your hands instinctively wrap around his neck as his smirk widens, well aware of the effect he has on you. The sensation of touching him is electrifying, a heady mix of desire and anticipation.

As he leads you closer to the falls, he gently places you on a smooth rock while keeping your legs wrapped around his waist. He pushes his damp hair away from his eyes, his intense gaze fixed on you.

His fingers trail along your lips, his touch sending a wave of longing through you. His eyes travel down your drenched body, drinking in the sight. The warmth of the falls surrounds you, its gentle cascade like a sensual shower, adding to the intoxicating atmosphere. It's no wonder he cherishes this place so much.

"Imagine yourself taking a shower in this cascade," he points up while looking at you as he continues, "Imagine your hands roaming around your figure and pleasuring you," Jungkook grabs your hand keeping it on your thigh as he caresses it with his fingers and the water falls down him, "But I will do that instead," he looks up in your eyes and your heart stops. He was looking so hot right now. The water drips down his body to the hair hanging on his forehead, with his muscular arms on reveal. His pale skin shines and gives a hypnotizing look.

He caresses your lips with his thumb as he leans in, "Imagine the waters caressing your lips when in lieu mine will do that," he moves his hand to your neck as he continues, "When I whisper words of love to you, imagine them as the falls singing and praising your unreal self."

───── ☾ ─────

"Heyyoooo! Regina!" Hoseok exclaims, using his vampire speed to sweep the girl into a warm hug, eliciting a joyful chuckle from her. Regina returns the embrace without hesitation.

"Long time no see, Hobi," she greets, her eyes shifting to Taehyung as he enters the living room, radiating kindness.

"Tae!" Regina calls out, darting toward him eagerly.

Taehyung responds with a wide, boxy smile and welcomes her into his embrace.

"Where is Jungkook? You told me you'd go find him, right?" Namjoon descends the stairs, inquiring about their missing member.

"I left him with Y/N," Regina replies, and a mischievous grin spreads across Taehyung's face as he drapes an arm lazily over her shoulder.

"Give me the details, Reina," he teases, using her nickname.

"Not you trying to sneak into the couple's privacy," Regina retorts, playfully removing Taehyung's arm. Jin watches them from a distance with a small smile.

"How are you, Jin?" Regina greets him with a warm hug.

"Great, Reina," Jin responds.

"You left us, and now you're back!" Jimin chimes in, narrowing his eyes playfully. Regina instantly appears next to him with her vampire speed, pulling him into a tight, affectionate hug. Jimin teases her back, pretending to be uninterested.

"Ew. I don't," he jokes, pushing her away while she attempts to hug him with all her vampire strength. Laughter fills the room.

"How were you all? I am sorry for not contacting you. I was busy working on my career," Regina explains.

"Reina?" Yoongi, having silently approached her, joins in the hug.

"How were you, Yoongi?" Regina inquires with a broad smile.

"Fine, and you?"

"Excellent!" Regina turns to the group, her eyes filled with happiness. "I missed you all so much!"

───── ☾ ─────

Jungkook lies beside you, his fingers gently toying with your hair. You both rest on a blanket he had stashed away in this hidden haven. He had shared the secret passage to this tranquil spot with you. His upper body remains bare, while you wear one of his T-shirts, long enough to reach your knees. Your eyes lock with his, a silent exchange of curiosity and desire. The melodic chirping of birds fills the peaceful environment, with the cascading waterfall in front of you and trees surrounding you both.

Desiring to be closer, you slowly inch toward him. Without hesitation, he grasps the back of your neck, pulling you into an intense kiss. The world around you seems surreal, and you fear it might end too soon. Kissing him with fervor, you bite his lower lip, and a metallic taste of blood brushes against your tongue. Jungkook withdraws slightly, running a finger over his lower lip, and concern wells up within you.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" You attempt to touch his lip, but he stops you, turning his head away and keeping his finger to his mouth as though hiding something.

"Jungkook..." You call out, feeling like you've done something terribly wrong. Have you?

He slowly removes his hand, gazing at you longingly. Your brows furrow deeply as you see no wound on his lip.

"There's nothing to worry about," Jungkook reassures you, his fingers running through your hair. He attempts to resume the kiss, but you grip his wrist, halting him. Your gaze remains locked onto his bottom lip.

"How did it heal?" You ask, and he sighs. He could have compelled you to forget about it, but he chooses not to play dirty. He wants to keep everything real.

"What are you?" Jungkook grips your waist and answers without hesitation, recalling how you disliked him for keeping this secret from you.

"A vampire," Jungkook confesses, deepening your frown.

"They're myths," you respond, and he chuckles.

"Of course, they are," he says with an amused smile, confirming what he had told you earlier. His job is done.

"Wait, what? Let me process this." His expression is telling you that you're mistaken. So, he's a vampire? You shake your head at the thought.

"What would you do if I were a vampire?" Jungkook changes his question, and you glance back at him, your thoughts now clear after his interruption.

"Become one too?" You reply with a puzzled look, stating the first thing that comes to your mind. Jungkook laughs heartily, his hand covering his mouth as he turns toward you.

"Why? Why would you want to become one?" He asks, pulling your face closer to his and planting a kiss on your forehead.

"Well, I don't know what we are, but..." You pause when he raises an eyebrow. You had wanted to say that you desired to be with him forever, but what if he didn't want that? It felt too soon to express such feelings.

"What do you want us to be?" He inquires, and you lean in closer, whispering near his lips with a seductive tone.

"Anything I ask?" Your gaze lingers near his, and he gazes back, his eyes appearing somewhat hazy.

"Anything you ask." His lips graze yours, and his eyes remain locked onto yours, filled with desire.

"What do you want?" Jungkook asks, awaiting your answer.

"Nothing."

───── ☾ ─────

You sneak into the dorms with your wet and curly hair, which you had dried with a towel. Jungkook fucking had clothes for you, a playful trick to lure you in. He claimed to have a hidden place near the falls where he kept spare clothes and clean towels. You couldn't believe it. You had hesitated earlier when he jokingly suggested you change in front of him, too shy to accept the offer. It felt as if you weren't right for him in some way, as if being together would be bad for him. These instincts were strange. Why did you feel this way? You didn't want to seem like a clueless playgirl in front of Jungkook. It was embarrassing, but you couldn't bring yourself to accept him either. You desired it wholeheartedly, yet something felt off.

Entering the dorms and finding no one there was a relief. Raya and Alita must have gone to sleep, which meant you wouldn't have to answer any questions from them about why you were wearing a man's clothes. They might jump to conclusions and ask if you had slept with someone.

You step into your room and slowly close the door behind you, but then you hear tapping noises. You pause, turning around to find Raya and Alita sitting on your bed, their expressions serious as they glare at you, clearly expecting an explanation.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you both what happened," you nervously say. They both nod, but Alita's gaze remains fixed on your clothing, and she turns to Raya with a knowing look.

"DID YOU JUST COME BACK AFTER SLEEPING AND SHOWERING WITH JUNGKOOK, Y/N?!"

───── ☾ ─────

Jungkook sits on his bed, his gaze fixed on the ground. His hands are tightly intertwined, and his legs are spread out as he struggles to comprehend your response.

"Nothing."

That's all you said. He can't believe it. Why did you reject his offer? Did he do something wrong? Was it because you thought he was a vampire? You didn't actually believe that, did you? So why?

Jungkook tilts his head in sheer disbelief at your words. He tries to recall any potential reasons for your rejection but comes up empty-handed. Was he just being used for a fleeting moment of kissing and passion?

His hand slowly moves to his chest, where his heart is pounding with pain at the mere thought. His expression morphs into one of hurt as he turns away.

Frustration overtakes him, and he falls onto the bed, whining and venting his frustration by punching his pillow.

Then, with newfound determination, he gets up. He won't let you run away like this. He's determined to make you his, no matter what it takes. He refuses to let that moment go to waste.

"What's wrong with him?" Jin asks, wearing a puzzled expression. Taehyung, peeking from the door alongside him, responds with a smirk.

"I think he's going through puberty."

"Um... okay?"

───── ☾ ─────

You stand behind the counter, trying to focus on your work. Your intention was to have a peaceful day, but a man sitting at a nearby table, leaning back with folded arms, keeps glaring at you. His intense gaze is making it hard for you to concentrate.

Jimin, who has also started working today, diligently goes about his tasks, ignoring the man's presence. He knows he can't avoid work forever.

Taehyung watches Jungkook with a puzzled frown, wondering what has him so captivated.

Despite the man's continuous glares, you continue to work, not giving him any attention, which only seems to irritate him more.

Jungkook, wanting to change the subject and engage with others, turns to Raya, who had mentioned Alita's upcoming birthday.

"Raya!" He calls out excitedly and rushes over to her. She turns to him with a sweet smile, her attention briefly diverting from the tablecloth she's working on.

"Yes?" She responds warmly, her eyes twinkling.

"Are we invited to Alita's birthday—" Jungkook begins to ask, but Jimin interrupts, slinging his arm lazily over Jungkook's shoulder.

"Quiet down. You weren't invited. Don't be disrespectful," Jimin chides with an eye roll. Raya, however, responds kindly.

"Alita would be delighted if you all could join us for her little birthday party at our dorm."

"Thanks!" Jungkook happily replies, while you remain engrossed in your work, oblivious to the conversation unfolding around you.

───── ☾ ─────

Jimin stands by the table, looking at Raya with a cute frown as he contemplates whether to pick it up or not. They need to rearrange some tables in the cafe, and Raya gives a nod of approval.

With determination, Jimin and Taehyung roll up their sleeves, revealing their veiny arms, and Jimin takes hold of the table. He lets out a groan as he feels the weight, and even Taehyung's expression shows how heavy it is.

Raya can't help but steal a glance at Jimin's arms, finding them rather attractive. She quickly averts her gaze, trying to shake off the thoughts. It's just her coworker, and Taehyung is right there. If she has a thing for veiny arms, why isn't she focusing on Taehyung's?

Suddenly, Jimin's voice calls out from behind her, making her jump slightly.

"Hey?" Jimin says, and Raya turns to face him, a hint of anxiousness in her eyes.

"Yes?" She responds, and Jimin gestures with his chin toward the table.

"I'm done."

───── ☾ ─────

Yoongi sits at his desk, engrossed in reading ancient books that appear to be at least a century old. He's about to turn the page when he hears the sound of approaching footsteps. Regina enters the room, and Yoongi acknowledges her presence, signaling her to continue speaking.

"Yoongi?" Regina inquires, taking a seat as Yoongi nods, indicating that she should proceed with her question.

"Tell me about Blaise Morrigan. Who is she, and where is she from?" Regina asks, her curiosity evident.

Yoongi wastes no time in responding. He stands up, reaching for a particular book on his desk and tossing it onto a nearby table. Regina sits across from him, leaning back in her chair, fully attentive to his words.

"She's a black magician," Yoongi begins, his tone serious. "She's here, likely seeking revenge against Jungkook. It could be because she had strong feelings for him. But there's more to this story."

Yoongi continues, his brows furrowed in deep thought. "I don't know how to proceed, Reina. I could gather more information by meeting her, but I don't even know who she really is or where she comes from."

He hands the book to Regina, who takes it as he elaborates further. "This book contains information about black magicians. They're magicians who make deals with the devil, selling their souls. There's a ritual involved. Over time, their souls become darker. The devil waits until they're at their most miserable and vulnerable to claim them. He enjoys seeing people in misery, and he knows that's when they're most likely to sell their souls. The question is, why did Blaise Morrigan become vulnerable in the first place?"

Yoongi's words hang in the air, leaving a sense of mystery and concern in the room.

A/N : chills.

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